Funding for a nursing education & advanced nursing ed

While the Nurse Reinvestment Act, which addresses funding for nursing school as well as recruitment and retention initiatives, waits for Congress to allocate the $250 million needed to implement this new law, its companion, the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, is now open. Instructions for applying for this financial assistance are on the ANA website (www.nursingworld.org):

Attention: All Registered Nurses and graduating nursing students -

<<Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program Applications
1/14/03

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is currently accepting applications from nurses for this financial assistance. The deadline is March 31, 2003.

The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) offers registered nurses substantial assistance to repay educational loans in exchange for service in eligible facilities located in areas experiencing a shortage of nurses.

HRSA prefers that applications be submitted online, although they will accepted paper forms. For more eligilbilty requirements and more info, including shortage areas, and online application go to:

Glad to be of help. It would also help if nurses sent their Congressman & US Senator a quick email, phone call, or note urging them to allocate the $25 million for the Nurse Reinvestment Act as well, so that new law can be implemented too. It provides additional funding for a nursing education.

Jan 17, '03

Did I read those individual eligibility requirements correctly? You're not eligible if you received a sign on bonus? What a bummer. . .I was all excited before that.

Would that be like "double dipping"? You know how when you go to college, if you receive an outside scholarship of $1000, the college deducts the same amount from whatever financial aid package it was going to give you itself, & applies it to someone who didnt get any outside aid. I guess this is the same thing. I didnt notice that piece but it makes sense to me. If a nurse gets thousands $$$ extra in a sign-on bonus from the employer that could be used to help pay her school loans (and I think its expected to). The limited funds the program has should go to others who have not already received any such help.

Jan 17, '03

Is it just me, but I went into the above website and do not see where you can apply for the financial assistance. I do see where to click on for loan repayment.

Am I not looking this correctly?

Thanks

Jan 17, '03

I can understand what you're saying JT, but the sign on bonus I got is no where near the 65% loan repayment they're talking about on this site. I have $42,000 in student loans to repay. Sure would be nice to have some help with that repayment!

Jan 21, '03

Yes, but aren't you eligible AFTER your complete the sign on bonus? THey said that your facility didn't have to be "In" a county listed with a shortage but it had to be a shortage facility, in which they listed "Hospital" (for example). So I guess if you apply and receive the money, its better if you DON'T take the sign on bonus. And I think they only pay 65% of your monthly payments for those two years .... AM I READING WRONG? I may be ....

Jan 21, '03

In addition to the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program, Dont forget to keep an eye on the Nurse Reinvestment Act law & apply as soon as soon as it is implemented:

<Nurse Reinvestment Act (NRA) - signed into law August 1, 2002 - If you are a practicing RN at an eligible health care facility, you may be able to be reimbursed up to 85% for any unpaid student loans under the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program.

For student nurses, the NRA has broadened the loan repayment program and added scholarships for students already accepted into nursing schools. In order to qualify for these funds, nursing students must commit to working for at least two years in health care facilities deemed to have a critical shortage of nurses.>

Also, check with your state nurses association. Thanks to the hard work & political activity of a lot of pro-active RNs, many states now have legislation to compliment these federal laws.

Legislation passed in 2001 to help fund nursing students:
Illinois legislation amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Rhode Island legislation allows interest on student loans to be forgiven. Texas law makes grants to nursing programs to increase enrollment, so check with the school on that. Oregon legislation repays student loans for nurses practicing in nursing shortage areas. Two bills were passed in Nebraska - The first provides eligible students with a loan forgiveness program after practicing nursing for an agreed upon period. The second bill provides loan repayment to nurses who agree to practice in a shortage area (so a student takes out loans while in school & the state later forgives the loan or pays them back for her). Legislation passed in Virginia provides scholarships and loan repayment programs for nurses. In 2002, CA, CT, ME, MN, NV, NJ, NM, NY, and PA were also working on state laws to help nursing students go to school.

And dont forget the online scholarship search engines like www.FASTweb.comwww.REVIEW.comwww.SCHOLARSHIP.com and www.SCHOLARSHIPCOACH.com
Nursing scholarships come up under nursing, medical, science, and health-related fields. Some scholarships are open to students in any health-related major so dont limit yourself by searching only for nursing scholarships. There are even some for adults returning to college. Just use the search buttons and profiles for what youre looking for.

Last edit by -jt on Jan 21, '03

Jan 25, '03

I was just wondering how old a Nurse (RN) would be if she came straight out of school and went straigh tinto her training? 21? 22?23?

Jan 28, '03

Originally posted by -jt For student nurses, the NRA has broadened the loan repayment program and added scholarships for students already accepted into nursing schools. In order to qualify for these funds, nursing students must commit to working for at least two years in health care facilities deemed to have a critical shortage of nurses.>[/I]